Doune Castle ................................ 3 Dumbarton Academy FP ............. 0 Doune comfortably won a bruising encounter and would have done so by a wider margin had it not been for an inspired display from Accies keeper, Andy McGilvray.

McGilvray gave an early indication of what was to come after only 2 minutes. Alan Inglis curled a free kick from 25 yards towards the right far corner but the keeper dived full-length to double-punch the ball to safety.

Dumbarton threatened after 10 minutes. After a quick break down the Castle left, McHarg shot across the face of goal as his shot from 16 yards flew well wide.

After 13 minutes, Alan More ran forward to collect a loose ball in midfield. More advanced 5 yards before unleashing a fierce, dipping shot from 30 yards. The ball ricocheted off the turf, making it even more difficult for the keeper. McGilvray reacted sharply and did well to parry.

Doune deservedly made the breakthrough with a wonderful goal on 21 minutes. Alan More showed great anticipation to sprint forward to win a loose ball in midfield, bursting between three defenders to gain possession. More drove on and from the edge of the area curled a precise shot round the advancing McGilvray and into the corner of the net to make it 1-0.

The Dumbarton keeper pulled off another fine save after 33 minutes. Alan Inglis slipped a pass to Dylan McGowan. McGowan bulleted a fierce drive from 10 yards, but again McGilvray denied Doune with a double block with his legs before recovering in time to also block Johnny Burns’ follow up.

Doune were then dealt a blow when the combative Graham McClymont was forced off with a nasty leg injury. Dumbarton forced one final effort on goal before the interval but Doune restricted McHarg to an angled effort from outside the box it flashed well wide of the far post as the hosts deservedly led 1-0 at the break.

Two minutes into the second period, McGilvray pulled off another fine save. David Innes pinged a 25-yard drive towards the postage stamp corner. The keeper acrobatically leapt high to hold just under the junction between bar and post.

Doune wouldn’t be denied and made it 2-0 after 53 minutes.

Alan Inglis and Robbie Hurst battled several Accies defenders for possession at the left edge of the area. Robbie Hurst pounced on the loose ball and curled a fierce drive towards the far post. The ball cannoned off the arm of a Dumbarton arm for a clear penalty. Inglis lashed the spot kick high into the net, despite a valiant effort from McGilvray.

The duo resumed their personal battle after 58 minutes, McGilvray again blocking with his feet from the striker after Robbie Hurst had put him through. On the hour, Dylan McGowan split the Dumbarton defence when he threaded a fine pass into the path of Alan Inglis (Pictured right), driving forward at the left edge of the area. Inglis took the ball first-time but sliced his shot a yard wide of the right hand post.

After 79 minutes, Dumbarton were reduced to 10 men when a midfielder was sent off after clashing with Robbie Hurst.

With three minutes remaining, McGilvray pulled off his best save of the afternoon with a stunning save. Robbie Hurst slipped a pass inside to Lukasz Duszynski 16 yards out. Duszynski clipped a fierce, first-time half volley curling high towards the top corner. McGilvray flipped acrobatically backwards to palm the ball over.

Doune sealed victory with a third goal after 89 minutes, ironically gifted by a rare error from McGilvray.

Robbie Hurst curled a corner from the left towards the near post. Under pressure from his own defender, McGilvray juggled contact, but let the ball slip from his grasp. Ryan Duncanson pounced on the loose ball and hammered the ball high into the net to make it 3-0. Doune saw out time, securing the points, with an outstanding team performance.

Doune Castle: Cowan, Foster, Duncanson, Feaks, More, Hurst, Burke (Innes), McClymont (Smith), McGowan (Duszynski), Inglis, Burns Substitute: Gallagher